Study Finds Increase in CCTA Use Reduces Hospitalizations and Death Rates in Suspected CAD

January 19, 2023—The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) announced that a recently published study reported that coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an effective and cost-neutral alternative to other modes of assessing coronary artery disease (CAD), with improved patient outcomes in areas that use more CCTA.

The study aimed to assess imaging use after CCTA was recommend as the first-line test for possible angina in updated guidance provided by the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for caring for patients with recent-onset chest pain.

Jonathan Weir-McCall, PhD, et al published the findings online in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

According to SCCT, the investigators analyzed a population of approximately 2 million patients evaluated for suspected CAD in the United Kingdom between 2012 and 2018.

The study found that CCTA use is rising in the United Kingdom as a result of the 2016 NICE guidance. Additionally, the investigators reported that regions with the greatest use of CCTA saw the greatest reduction in hospitalization for myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death.

Edward Nicol, MD, Senior Investigator of the study and SCCT President-Elect, commented in the society’s press release, “These real-world findings in a very large patient cohort provide strong evidence that the use of CCTA as a first-line investigation in those with suspected CAD reduces cardiovascular mortality, and proves the use of CCTA as the first-line test—as proposed in the United Kingdom NICE guidance—is highly cost effective.”

Dr. Nicol noted that during the 7-year study period, the increased use of CCTA did not result in layered testing, and despite the overall increase in imaging investigations performed, the cost to the National Health Service remained stable, only rising in line with inflation.

“This cost neutrality was driven by a reduction in more expensive investigations, such as invasive coronary angiography, with a replacement with less expensive CT coronary angiography,” stated Dr. Nicol in the press release.